3-year cost calculator
Pre-filled for Confluent Platform → Apache Kafka. Adjust every figure with your own numbers.
Every figure here is an illustrative estimate, not a vendor quote. Defaults are editable starting points compiled from public information; real, binding pricing comes from the vendor or an authorized distributor. See our methodology.
All figures are illustrative and fully editable — adjust the cost-per-core and migration inputs with your own numbers. Not guaranteed vendor pricing (defaults reviewed May 2026). For a binding quote, use the request form below to reach an authorized distributor or partner.
Quick comparison: Confluent Platform vs Apache Kafka
Common trade-offs teams weigh when staying on Confluent Platform versus moving to Apache Kafka. These are general, commonly-reported considerations — not statements of fact about any vendor — so check them against your own contract and the vendors' current terms.
- Already in production — no migration effort or risk
- Mature ecosystem with vendor support and SLAs
- Subscription/CKU pricing scales with throughput
- Premium connectors and features add cost
- Cloud egress and add-on fees
- Ongoing subscription / cku cost to budget for
- Open source — no license fees
- No vendor lock-in
- Cost model: Free (self-managed)
- Requires a migration (~15 weeks, medium effort)
- Community support by default — paid support optional
Why teams evaluate alternatives to Confluent Platform
Reasons commonly cited by users and in public industry coverage for re-evaluating Confluent Platform. These are general, reported considerations — not statements of fact about Confluent — and may not reflect your situation or the vendor's current terms. Verify against your own contract before deciding.
- Subscription/CKU pricing scales with throughput
- Premium connectors and features add cost
- Cloud egress and add-on fees
The migration plan
Roughly 15 weeks for a mid-size estate, in six phases.
Tooling & automation
Stand up open-source Apache Kafka (KRaft); migrate topics/configs; mirror with MirrorMaker 2; repoint producers/consumers; cut over after lag drains.
OffVendor's wizard pre-fills these scripts with your environment — inventory export, disk/schema conversion, bulk provisioning, and validation.
Frequently asked
Is migrating from Confluent Platform to Apache Kafka worth it?
For most teams facing rising Confluent Platform costs, yes — Apache Kafka (free (self-managed)) typically lowers 3-year total cost of ownership, though the right answer depends on workload complexity and in-house skills. Use the calculator to model your own numbers.
How long does a Confluent Platform to Apache Kafka migration take?
A typical mid-size estimate is around 15 weeks across six phases — discovery, design, pilot, waved production migration, validation, and decommission. Larger or more complex estates take longer.
What tools are used to migrate from Confluent Platform to Apache Kafka?
Stand up open-source Apache Kafka (KRaft); migrate topics/configs; mirror with MirrorMaker 2; repoint producers/consumers; cut over after lag drains.